Manager Jesse Marsch and Montreal Impact part ways

The Montreal Impact and manager Jesse Marsch announced on Saturday morning that they have parted ways.

"I'm leaving the club by mutual agreement," Marsch announced during a press conference alongside owner Joey Saputo and sporting director Nick de Santis. "It's not easy with the relationships that we've built, but for me it's the right decision.

"Although we have the same goals, we did not share the same philosophy," continued Marsch. And his comments were echoed by Saputo.

"This is an amicable parting of ways, for the better of the club," Saputo said. "While we had the same long-term objective for this organization, we realized we did not share the same view on how to get there."

The Impact compiled a 12-16-6 season in their first MLS campaign and the 42 points were 11 short of the fifth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Assistants Mike Sorber, Denis Hamlett, Mauro Biello and Philippe Eullaffroy will take over the reins of the club on an interim basis.

"In the end we felt mutually that for the club this was the best decision to make," De Santis said during the press conference.

According to the club's owner, the failure to qualify to the playoffs in their expansion season had nothing to do with the decision.

"Long term was it going to work? Were we going to be happy? Was Jesse going to be happy? Was the club going to suffer?" Saputo said. "The decision wasn't based on whether we were in the playoffs or not."